AMARACHI
I stepped outside the house with heavy sleepy eyes. Scanning the empty buckets in the backyard, I realised my workload this morning will be much.
The atmosphere was so cold and sky was still dark. Some stars could be spotted as the darkness covered the entire horizon. I rubbed my hands together trying to feel warm.
A deep sigh escaped my mouth as I took a jerry-can and made my way out off the house."It was still dark, why couldn't aunty Lydia just let me rest?"
Stepping outside the iron gate of my house, I felt the cold breeze run through my body and I shivered.
There were just few people on the road, probably those of the working class as they went their way not even minding anybody else
I greeted some of them, most replied while some didn't.Heaven knows I was still sleepy as I tried to keep awake whilst walking.
My eyes felt so heavy it felt like I should just collapse.I have been working since yesterday, Aunty Lydia made sure to give me a handful of work.
Aunty Lydia was a tailor and I worked in her shop, learning the trade since she and uncle Francis refused to further my education.Yesterday a customer returned a cloth because Aunty Lydia made a huge mistake in cutting out the pattern. I tried telling her before hand that I don't think the pattern she used is right but what did I get?
I got a slap on the face."Aunty I don't think you should use that pattern. The shape won't come out well" I said in a low tone.
Aunty Lydia stopped cutting the dress and stared at me.
Her stare sent shivers down my spine.I knew I shouldn't have talked."What did you say!?" She asked me harshly.My throat suddenly became dry as I lost my voice out of fear.
"Ogini ki ku!?(what did you say) Ina pu ala( are you mad?) Ibu onye ala(you are mad)!amosu(witch)" Aunty Lydia lashed at me in our Igbo dialect.
I was just trying to help her and this is what I got in return.
Insults upon insults.She stood up and faced me, eying me with a wicked glare."Just because you are good in tailoring, just because the people praise you, Amarachi you now think you know better than me shey (is that so)?!" I tried to speak but immediately she slapped me so hard."If you ever in your life act like you know better than me, Amarachi I'll show you why I'm a lioness. Useless girl"
All I could do was cry, I could only cry, I couldn't defend myself. I was only trying to help.
"I'm...so..so...sorry" I said whilst crying as I clutched on to the cheek she slapped still feeling the pain.
I felt my eyes being watery as I recalled the event.
Now the customer brought back the cloth and she handed me the cloth to fix blaming her mistake on my carelessness. I came home around ten in the night yesterday and I kept on working on the cloth till three.I atleast expected aunty Lydia to thank me but I guess I expected too much from her.
She hated my mother and passed the hatred to me."You no dey watch!"was the voice I heard which snapped me out off my thoughts.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't realise a motorcycle was behind me."I'm..I'm.. sorry" I apologized and quickly moved away for him to pass.
"God help me" I said to myself in a low tone as I made my way to the community tap.
I approached the huge community tap. It was actually four taps to be precise to make it easier for as much people as possible to get water.
It was in the middle of a particular street. The street was deserted and the area was so quiet.An eerie silence consumed the atmosphere.It made me feel scared and I started wishing for atleast someone to show up with the aim of fetching water too.
I wouldn't blame them anyways, who will come out by this time to fetch water from a tap that opens around seven?
Exactly nobody.
But aunty Lydia would always look for a way to make me work.I climbed up the two little cemented steps that led to the first tap and sat on the second step resting my head on the tap.
The metallic opening of the tap was so cold. It made me flinch at first but I slowly rested my head on it and enjoyed the coldness.
Atleast I could sleep here if I couldn't sleep at home.
"I'll sleep just for a while. Let me just rest"
††††††††
"Hello dear"
I felt a light tap on my shoulder and I heard a feminine voice which echoed in my head."Hello young girl"
The voice echoed again in my head. It interrupted my sleep and I frowned inwardly.I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Opening my eyes slowly, everything seemed blurry at first but then my sight slowly adjusted and met the gaze of an elderly woman who was smiling at me."Good..good morning ma" I greeted as I stood up immediately dusting my skirt.
How long was I asleep?I took a cursory look at the sky, it was still dark which made me realise that I hadn't been sleeping for long."Young girl what are you doing here by this time?"she asked, concerned written all over her face."Um..ma I came here to fetch water"I replied whilst nervously holding on to my skirt as the breeze was blowing it.
I accessed the woman's appearance, she looked rich and I spotted a car behind her with someone sitting on the driver seat, it probably was her driver."But my dear the tap doesn't open until seven. This is not even 6:30 yet. You are here alone. You are a prey for street urchins. You could get harassed" She told me as she caressed my cheek lightly.
This woman was so concerned for me. I couldn't help but stare at her. It felt like she was my mother.
I guess when you are just devoid of love and care, you tend to melt yourself into any body who shows you the littlest affection."Yes..yes. I know. But I have to come here early ma" I stammered.
She looked at me puzzled, then smiled.She stretched out her hand to me,"Come. You want to fetch water right? Come I'll take you to my house. You can fetch as much you want ok"I gasped immediately. This woman was Godsent. She was really offering to help me with water.
"Ma..."my voice trailed off as she cut me short.
"I know you don't know me. I'm Mrs Justice. I'm Chief Justice wife"Chief Justice, I've heard of him before. He is a wealthy and respected man. He is a philanthropist. I heard him, his wives and his children stayed abroad.
I wonder what brought his wife here?I never believed I'll actually meet any of chief Justice's family."Follow me ok. I don't want you standing outside here, exposed to this cold weather and the danger of being harassed by street urchins. I was actually on my way to a meeting but I'll drop you at my house and you fetch as much as you want ok" she said jolting me out of my thoughts.
I then realised I had been standing at that particular spot and I hadn't taken her hand.
I nodded my head and smiled at her.Feeling shy a bit, I took hold of her hand and she led me to her car."God Thank you!"
AMARACHI I took hold of her hand and she led me to herparked car. We got into the car and the driver ignited the engine."Take us home" she ordered but with a soft tone.The driver nodded and turned the car around. I still felt a bit tense which I'm sure she noticed as I found her gaze on me."What is it my dear?"she asked me with a smile on her face.I didn't want her to think I was being rude so I smiled back at her and shook my head."Nothing ma"She sighed and let out a laugh"it's ok. I understand you may be a little scared. I'm just trying to help you"I didn't know this woman from Adam but the kindness she showed me within this few minutes surpassed aunty Lydia's attitude towards me my entire life."You can come to my house whenever you want to fetch water ok. My d
FlashbackMany Years Earlier Lydia quickly and stealthily walked out of the compound, opening the gate quietly and closing it in that same manner so as not to make a noise. "Where could Francis be now?"Lydia thought to herself once outside the gate."Yes, he is probably at Dike's workshop. Francis my love prepare to loose your Chinenye" A smile formed on her lips on the thought of Francis loosing his love for Chinenye. She quickly hurried towards meeting Francis.She would have to pass the community market which was a very good way of seeing Adanne or as she is popularly referred to as "Nne", Francis' and Emeka's mother.
AMARACHI I felt sick in my stomach every time I had to explain myself to aunty Lydia. She can never love me, I want her to love me the way she loves Ogechi but she can never love me. I atleast thought she will be happy on seeing that I fetched the water early but instead she called me a witch.Was it fair?Isn't this life being too unfair to me?"Answer them Amara. Quiet their tongues"Nne nudged my shoulder.I had been silent the whole time I didn't even realise it. "Nne she can't say anything now. What can she say? You are spoiling Amarachi o"Ogechi remarked harshly which got her a glare from Nne."Aunty Lydia"I began"Yes the community tap was obviously closed but I met Chief Justice's wife and she took me to her house and told me to fetch from her house" I explained.I saw how quickly both aunty Lydia
AMARACHII stepped outside the door of the house, putting on an okrika(fairly used) blue floral gown. I didn't have much fancy clothes like Ogechi, aunty Lydia hardly bought me any nice cloth so the ones I had, I made sure to keep them in good shape. My afro virgin hair was combed and packed to a bun and I carried a little handbag which contained some sowing equipments.I was already through with the house chores and I had already freshened up but I had not eaten.The heat of the sun had already begun, it was probably ten o'clock by now.I spotted aunty Lydia and her husband, my uncle Francis, sitting under the umbrella mango tree discussing. 'Uncle Francis', that tittle 'uncle', was he really my uncle?He accompanied his wife in maltreating me, he hates me the way aunty Lydia hates me.Is this man really my late's father's younger brother?I doubt it.If
AMARACHI After I finished sweeping, I proceeded with cleaning the sewing machines, tables and chairs. I had to make sure everything was neat and orderly if not I'll attract the wrath of Aunty Lydia.Something which I definitely didn't want. I had already gotten enough of her anger this morning, I didn't want more.Once finished, I sat down on my own personal sewing machine. It was actually my late mother's own. The only material things I had in remembrance of my late mother was the locket she gave me when I was still little and this sowing machine.The locket had a small space for storing a photograph and her picture was in it. I wore it everytime, it became my skin. I never took it off because I was so use to it. I took some materials from a polythene bag next to me. Gosh customers cloth! They were so many and they needed to be sewed. I really worked all round th
AMARACHI After my friends left, I went back to my work. It really wasn't easy. Time moved really slow and it frustrated me.I was cutting, sewing and mending customers cloth. More and more customers kept on trooping inside aunty Lydia's shop, bringing materials for sewing.I took measurements endlessly. I liked the fact that aunty Lydia's business was booming but the effect was taking a toll on me seriously. I was working round the clock here and I didn't even get a 'thank you' from aunty Lydia.I kept on working until aunty Lydia came in during noon.She was on a yellow lace top and she tied a wrapper matching the lace coupled with her handbag and her heavy jewellery.I immediately stood up and cleaned her particular seat for her even though I had cleaned it before."Aunty good afternoon" I greeted her with a courtesy bow.She eyed me and hiss
AMARACHI God I'm so dead!Aunty Lydia kept on screaming, calling me a thief. I didn't steal anything. I was innocent.I knew she wouldn't listen to my side of the story. My heart was beating so fast as if it was threatening to break out of my rib cages."God please help me""Aunty wait... it's..."I began but I was quickly interrupted by her."It's what?! It's what Amarachi!? After that old hag called your grandmother will see you as an angel not knowing you are a thief! Nothing but a thief! Just like your mother!"Really? My mother? Why does she always add my mother in her insults! Why can't she let my mother rest?My mother isn't a thief and I'm not one either."Aunty Lydia my mother isn't a thief"I said immediately surprised by my own bravery."What did you say?"Aunty Lydia asked
AMARACHI"You don't have to worry, everything is sorted out"the young handsome stranger said jolting me out of my thoughts and back to reality.I nodded slowly at him. I then turned to look at my aunty. Immediately our eyes met, she put on a fake smile and stretched my bag over to me."Go home my dear"she said rather too friendly.What a facade!I knew once I arrived home, I'll receive the full punishment. All this was just an act to cover up her inhuman behaviour.I nodded my head and took my bag from her, turning to leave but then the young man grabbed my arm, as if telling me to stop."Hold on. How much got missing?"he asked as he brought out his wallet.My aunty eyes widened immediately. I really hope she doesn't collect any money from him.After all the lady took the three thousand naira I had!"Eehm it w